Ron Rowe spent 26 years with the U.S. Secret Service and retired as acting director. Now he leads executive protection and special event security at The Chertoff Group as part of Security Risk & Resilience. We talked with him on our most recent episode of Mission Critical Conversations, to better understand the physical threats facing high profile executives today and how prepared organizations respond.
Executive Protection Investments Have Grown Since 2024
The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson changed how corporate leaders think about security. The murder trial, set to begin September 8, will bring the story back in the headlines. And there’s a marked shift in how companies are approaching executive protection including a sharp increase in spending.
Figures published by the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance from Equilar show S&P 500 companies increased executive security from 33.5% in 2024 to 37.8 % in 2025.
Correspondingly, targeted violence against executives and public figures has continued to increase. To name a few, we’ve seen the Manhattan office shooting at 345 Park Avenue last July and the attacks on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home this April.
Working with in-house security, Rowe starts by examining the risk profile of the organization and the executive. Then creates a risk-based program with a documented risk matrix. Security teams need an accurate picture of risk at the micro and macro level, including the organization’s broader exposure.
Threats Extend Beyond the CEO
Executive protection goes beyond any single individual and is about protecting the brand. Rowe named succession planning as a critical gap for many organizations. Companies must have a continuity of operations plan formalized before a CEO takes medical leave or if an unthinkable event occurs, as in the case of Brian Thompson.
Rowe warned that a grievance against a company can transfer to leadership. An attacker seeking a target of opportunity may pursue any public-facing official. Security teams must track sentiment across the organization and its public-facing leaders. Geopolitical developments, high-profile events and regulatory scrutiny can all raise that risk.
A mature program leverages protective intelligence. Rowe carried this formula from government service into the private sector. Intelligence shapes decisions long before a crisis unfolds. Teams monitor threats aimed at a single individual or facility all the way to the full organizational profile. Cyber threats also now factor directly into physical security planning. Sometimes the work involves decreasing the principal’s digital footprint.
Trust Takes Time to Build with Executives
Executives often experience a protection detail as a strain on family life. Rowe described trust as something “gained in ounces and lost in buckets.” Security leaders must build rapport with the executive to deliver effective protection for the principal and family members.
Rowe recommends avoiding friction from routine intrusions into an executive’s schedule. Security teams should reserve visible changes for moments backed by specific intelligence. Explaining the reason behind a change increases trust with the executive.
Corporate Security Needs C-Suite Buy-In
Companies often ask where an executive protection function should sit. Rowe said the answer depends on where leaders can act decisively. Buy-in from the CEO matters more than any specific reporting line.
Rowe has seen the strongest programs backed by leadership from the top. A CEO who prioritizes security empowers the team to build lasting capability.
As executive risk continues to evolve, so must the strategies built to counter it. Organizations that treat security as a core business function build lasting resilience.
Listen to the full episode of Mission Critical Conversations to hear more from Ron Rowe. The Washington Post quoted him in a recent story on the need for secrecy around Presidential security.
